Literature Review

Leading the Way: Gilchrist and Franklin Hospice forces in landmark integration Franklin Hospice, Chambersburg, PA; by Karen M. Giffin; 9/9/24 Franklin Hospice and Gilchrist ... have announced an affiliation agreement. This partnership will unite two of Maryland’s oldest and most experienced nonprofit organizations, together with nearly 70 years of service to their communities. As the healthcare landscape continues to transform nationwide, this type of affiliation of two synergistic nonprofit organizations with similar missions, visions, and values will position both organizations for continued growth, innovation and financial strength. ... This strategic affiliation will strengthen their ability to offer compassionate care to more patients and families throughout Central and Southern Maryland, as well as Washington and Frederick Counties and South-Central Pennsylvania. Both organizations will retain their name and branding while offering a unified approach to care. 

National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation Fierce Pharma - Special Report: The Fierce 50 of 2024 - Innovation Honorees; by Fraiser Kansteiner; distributed 9/10/24 With an aging population and shifting healthcare environment, providing proper, personalized care for the U.S.’ most vulnerable patients can be a challenge.That’s why Tom Koutsoumpas, one of the masterminds behind the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), has been working to continually improve hospice and palliative care across the nation for decades. ... The goal, he explained in an interview with Fierce, was to "become the national voice for the future of hospice, palliative care, and advanced illness care." Through its efforts, NPHI seeks to work in tandem with its network of nonprofit community programs to help them innovate, thrive into the future and continue to evolve in the ever-changing U.S. healthcare system, Koutsoumpas said. While local hospice and palliative care groups exist to tackle many of these same goals, “programs in the community have no scale,” Koutsoumpas explained. “They have no opportunity to work from scale to address cost issues, rising costs, changes that occur.” In turn, NPHI was founded to help bring those programs together while allowing them to retain their identities as discrete, local providers. Editor's note: NPHI is a sponsor for our newsletter. 

Heart to Heart Hospice expanding services into Oklahoma PR Newswire; by Kim Dellinger; 9/10/24 Heart to Heart Hospice, one of the country's largest private providers of hospice care, is adding a new location in Durant, Okla., expanding its service offerings into the state for the first time. The new Durant site will serve Southeast Oklahoma, which includes the counties of Atoka, Bryan, Choctaw, Coal, Hughes, Johnston, Marshall, McCurtain, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, and Pushmataha. "It's exciting to be able to offer our care services in Oklahoma, which happens to be my home state," said Kelly Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Heart to Heart Hospice, who is from Sallisaw. Heart to Heart Hospice, based in Plano, Texas, has been serving patients with life-limiting illnesses, as well as their loved ones, since 2003. The company currently provides a broad range of hospice services across 63 locations in Indiana, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Blue Ridge Hospice expanding mission to serve people better, sooner The Winchester Star, Winchester, VA; by Brian Brehm; 9/9/24 “We’re calling this a year of transformation,” said Jason Parsons, who was named CEO of the Winchester-based nonprofit in December. “Blue Ridge has been around for 43 years and this year, 2024, we’re transforming ourselves into Blue Ridge Care, which includes Blue Ridge Hospice, Blue Ridge Independence at Home — which is our PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) program — Blue Ridge Palliative Care Services and our eight thrift shops.” It’s a sweeping change for an organization that most people only associate with end-of-life care. Parsons ... said Blue Ridge Care will continue to provide graceful exits for patients in the final chapter of their lives, but it will also expand its focus to improve the quality of life for seniors who still have a lot of stories to tell.

Compassion for terminally ill boy blooms into 17th year of Trick or Treat in the Heat Alaska's News Source, Anchorage, AL; by Olivia Nordyke; 9/9/24 Parents of a terminally ill child said they never thought their son’s last Halloween celebration would transform into an annual event that spans multiple cities. In 2005, doctors told Joyce Durcanin-Robbins and Sean Robbins that their son Ian’s leukemia meant he wouldn’t likely live to see Oct. 31. The couple created an earlier Halloween celebration in their neighborhood to give their son one last trick or treating experience. This weekend marked the 17th time Trick or Treat in the Heat brought neighborhood kids from all over Anchorage out to celebrate and get candy in full costume. “We kind of realized after the fact is this is a lot more fun than late October.” said Sean, Joyce adding; “We missed a couple of years because of COVID, and for the first few years, it was just sort of a year-to-year kitchen table operation.” ... Kelsey Torres, an event organizer, said they’ve raised about $700,000 in the lifetime of Trick or Treat in the Heat. ... Torres said 100% of the money raised goes to Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington, Hospice of Anchorage, and Ronald McDonald House Charities. Editor's note: The location--Anchorage, Alaska--is core to this story. What location-specific or culturally-sensitive events do you already provide? What creative ideas might you implement? 

Photos: Grief and fond memories shared at Reflections on the River Salem Reporter, Salem, OR; by Laura Tesler; 9/6/24 As the sun fell Thursday evening, hundreds of Salemites gathered at Riverfront Park to reflect, grieve and share stories. The annual Reflections on the River event, organized by hospice provider Willamette Vital Health, included 4,600 luminarias to memorialize family and friends who have died. 

Norfolk woman celebrates 106th birthday after hospice discharge for being too healthy CBS WTKR 3, Norfolk, VA; by Vashti Moore; 9/6/24 A local woman not only celebrated good health on Thursday, but she also celebrated 106 years of life. Dorothy Southall was born in Whaleyville — a small neighborhood in Suffolk on Sept. 5, 1918. That’s two years before women received the right to vote and two months before the end of World War I. ... During the Civil Rights Movement, Dorothy worked as a licensed practical nurse at Bellevue Hospital Center in New York. She served her community as a healthcare worker for 20 years before moving back to Virginia in the late 1980s where she would live on her own and manage her own finances until she was 103. ... In August 2023, while living with her family, Dorothy was discharged from hospice because she deemed too healthy and no longer met the requirements. When admitted into residential care this summer in Norfolk, Dorothy said she “felt like she was home” when she arrived.

Gilchrist and Hospice of Washington County join forces in landmark affiliation agreementGilchrist [MD] press release; 9/9/24Hospice of Washington County and Gilchrist, Maryland’s leading provider of geriatric, palliative, and hospice care, have announced an affiliation agreement. This partnership will unite two of Maryland’s oldest and most experienced nonprofit organizations, together with nearly 70 years of service to their communities.

Providence, hospice workers agree to resolve NLRB complaint Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch; 9/5/24 Renton, WA-based Providence and caregivers of Providence Hospice in Sonoma County, Calif., agreed to resolve allegations that workers were required to take on additional work and responsibilities without appropriate compensation. The agreement resolves allegations filed with the National Labor Relations Board in June 2023 by approximately 130 registered nurses, social workers and other staff at the hospice care provider, according to the National Union of Healthcare Workers. ... [Click here to read the terms.]  ... Both sides agreed the deal is a win for the caregivers and for hospice. "This agreement is good for us and for the families we serve because it means instead of racing in our cars from one family to another, our agency will have to staff appropriately so we can devote ourselves fully to our patients," Kristina Nauheimer, a nurse case manager at the hospice, said in the union release.

Inclusive leadership: Fostering diversity and inclusion Forbes; by Lynda Silsbee and the Forbes Coaches Council; 9/5/24 In today's work world, diversity and inclusion are more than just buzzwords—they are essential components of a successful and innovative organization. Inclusive leadership, which actively seeks to embrace diversity and create an environment where all individuals feel valued and empowered, is critical to fostering this philosophy. Leaders who prioritize inclusion can harness the full potential of their teams, driving creativity, engagement and productivity. ... A study by Bersin by Deloitte shows that inclusive and diverse companies have "2.3 times higher cash flow per employee" and smaller businesses enjoyed 13 times higher cash flow. In addition, these companies had greater readiness for change and innovation. Inclusive leadership goes beyond the representation of different demographics within an organization. It involves creating a culture where diverse perspectives are actively sought out, respected and integrated into decision-making processes. Such leadership fosters a sense of belonging, where everyone feels valued for their unique contributions.

Grief redoubled by a death certificate delayed: A seven-week odyssey in search of a vital record The Provincetown Independent; by Aden Choate; 9/4/24 Richard Pask, 72, came to the select board on Aug. 27 distraught. His wife, Carol Harris, 69, who had ALS, had died at home in hospice care on July 18, he said, and the town had still not issued a death certificate. Without the certificate, Pask could not access his late wife’s pension payments, manage their mutual assets, update annuity contracts, or cancel service accounts in her name. The Social Security Administration, which has continued to issue payments to Harris — a death certificate is required to stop them — had launched an investigation into possible fraud, ...Editor's note: Root causes from this complex case study relate to the family having used a "green burial" which is becoming more common, where permitted. This case study represents a gap in collaboration between typical systems. Hospice personnel who have any 'touch-points" with the death certificate process must know and adhere to federal, state, and local policies and procedures, especially when variables occur (such as green burials). 

“What I wish I knew about hospice”: A Cleveland Clinic palliative care physician’s insights The Healthy; by Dr. Patricia Varacall, DO; 9/3/24 End-of-life care is deeply personal and incredibly complex. An expert MD shares essential insights on hospice: "At its core, is about human connection." … Laura Hoeksema, MD, MPH, FAAHPM, medical director of Cleveland Clinic Hospice and staff physician in the department of palliative and supportive care, explains the importance of hospice: “Death is a part of life just as much as birth is. When time becomes limited, patients need to be able to spend time in a way that’s meaningful to them.” ... Dr. Hoeksema emphasizes that choosing hospice care is exactly that—a choice. The team offers additional support, guiding patients and their families through the last months of life. ... “When a patient has a serious illness, it’s common for their illness to become the primary focus,” reflects Dr. Hoeksema. The constant anticipation of how the disease might progress can create overwhelming anxiety. With hospice, the illness recedes into the background, allowing the emphasis to be on caring for the person as a whole. ... “The most profound healing I’ve witnessed as a physician has been in patients receiving hospice care,” Dr. Hoeksema adds. She recalls seeing families reconcile after years of tension and others coming together after long periods of distance. The joy on a patient’s face when surrounded by loved ones, laughing and reminiscing, is what it’s all about. “Hospice care, at its core, is about human connection.”

Estela’s blog: A mother’s scent KTSM.com, El Paso, TX; by Esther Casas; 9/3/24 My mom passed away on September 28, 2002. This year will mark 22 years since we had our last conversations. I remember that day like it was yesterday. ... I remember her eyes, but I barely remember her voice. We had captured many memorable moments in pictures but never recorded her voice or asked her questions that would never be answered. If you have elderly parents, I suggest you have a real and frank conversation and record it. As I spent several hours doing some fall cleaning, I found myself immersed in memories. ... Each item I discarded felt like a small step towards closure. ... I found a zip-lock bag with the house dress my mom was wearing the morning she died. ... A hospice nurse had written her name: Esther Casas. I carefully opened the plastic and took a deep breath. Most of her scent is now gone. I quickly closed the bag to preserve what little scent is left and put it back in the drawer. ... I felt melancholy, but I used it as an opportunity to remember the three weeks she was in hospice care and the incredible team of family, friends, and hospice nurses who helped her transition home.Editor's note: Have you experienced the hospice care and death of a family member? Whom would you like to thank? Now is a great time. Let them know how that experience of good care plays into the daily care you provide now.